Wagner | Berkow

Founding members Steve Wagner and Bonnie Berkow have been recognized for their real estate legal expertise for more than 30 years. Caring deeply for the success of each of our clients, our entire team is focused on providing outstanding legal services and advice, winning and creative approaches to problems, unfailing ethics and good judgment. We listen well and communicate clearly. We are the advocates and partners our clients want.

The Firm

WAGNER BERKOW LLP is dedicated to providing the highest level of legal services to our clients. Our practice is concentrated in the areas of real estate, cooperatives, condominiums, complex commercial litigation, land use, internet defamation and tenant buyouts. We have a large clientele of coops and condos and also represent individual apartment owners in connection with coop and condo closings and disputes. We litigate all types of corporate, commercial, real estate, intra-shareholder, corporate election law and internet defamation disputes.

Our extensive and varied background includes resolution or litigation of disputes for control of partnerships, corporations, limited liability companies, between adjacent landowners, neighboring apartment owners and apartment owners and their boards, zoning, land use and development rights issues, Pullman actions, commercial and residential landlord/tenant matters, regulated housing issues including rent control, rent stabilization, City and State Mitchell-Lamas and Section 213 housing, succession right claims, condominium lien, residential and complex commercial mortgage foreclosures, tenant buy-outs, actions to clear title, plus a wide range of commercial and corporate disputes. We are experienced in landlord/tenant matters and administrative proceedings in state and appellate courts.

Attorneys

Steven R. Wagner

Steven R. Wagner

Steven R. Wagner has been a litigator focusing on corporate and real estate law for more than 30 years. He founded the firm of Wagner Davis P.C. in 1984, was a principal at the firm of Porzio Bromberg & Newman, P.C. from 2013 to 2014 and founded the firm of Wagner Berkow, LLP in December, 2014.

Mr. Wagner litigates corporate, commercial and real estate matters as well as Internet defamation, and practices in all areas of co-op and condominium law. His ability to “cut to the heart of the matter” and clearly explain legal issues quickly established him as a leading attorney in the rapidly expanding field of internet defamation claims and in the co-op and condominium arena. Mr. Wagner’s litigation background, common sense and intellectual toughness has attracted clients with a variety of issues including disputes for control of partnerships, corporations and limited liability companies; disputes between adjacent landowners; zoning and land use disputes; commercial and residential landlord/tenant matters; regulated housing issues including Mitchell-Lama and Section 213 housing; succession rights claims; rent control and rent stabilization disputes; complex foreclosures and actions to clear title; tenant buy-outs; negligence claims; and commercial and corporate disputes.

Mr. Wagner also represents a large number of cooperatives, condominiums and individual owners of apartments on a variety of issues including construction defects, sponsor defaults, “Pullman” actions, claims against defaulting unit owners, and discrimination/human rights claims. He also services corporations, commercial and residential real estate developers and landlords, real estate and investment entities, individual directors and partners involved in corporate or partnership disputes, residential and commercial tenants and tenants’ associations, and a number of high profile restaurateurs.

Mr. Wagner is frequently quoted in respected publications, including The New York Times, the Wall Street Journal, the New York Post, the New York Daily News, the New York Observer, The Real Deal and Crain’s New York Business, and is a regular contributor to BrickUnderground.com, a website specializing in real estate issues. In addition, he has written on legal issues for both The Cooperator and New York Habitat, publications that specialize in co-ops and condominiums. Mr. Wagner is frequently interviewed for articles focusing on New York City real estate issues, and has lectured for the Federation of New York Housing Cooperatives, the New York County Lawyers’ Association, and the Council of New York Cooperatives. He has also appeared on Good Morning America, CNN’s First Edition, Campbell Brown, and other national television and radio programs concerning internet defamation and First Amendment Rights.

Mr. Wagner serves on the board of the Parker Jewish Institute for Healthcare and Rehabilitation, is actively involved in other areas of the community, and supports and participates in charitable activities involving mental health.

Bonnie Reid Berkow

Bonnie Reid Berkow

Bonnie Reid Berkow is a founding member of Wagner Berkow, LLP, and a long-time partner with Steve Wagner. With over thirty years’ experience litigating in State and Federal Courts in New York State, Ms. Berkow focuses her practice on complex commercial litigation, both at the trial and appellate level. Ms. Berkow has handled cases involving breach of contract, fraud and breach of fiduciary duty, in addition to real estate disputes and commercial actions.

Representative clients include cooperative and condominium boards, residential unit owners, sponsors, and individuals or corporations involved in contract disputes. Ms. Berkow has successfully litigated cases involving construction defects in large residential cooperatives and condominiums, challenges to sponsor control and excessive ownership in cooperatives and condominiums, mediation of Martin Act claims before the New York State Office of the Attorney General, intra-shareholder disputes, noise complaints, constructive eviction and breach of warranty of habitability arising out of leaks or other damage to the apartment. Ms. Berkow also deals with disputes surrounding corporate governance and election law, challenges to by-laws and other corporate documents, preliminary injunction and declaratory judgment actions, termination of commercial leases, lien foreclosures, arbitration and mediation, discrimination, and personal injury.

Ms. Berkow has defended both commercial and residential tenants in eviction proceedings and is experienced in all facets of landlord/tenant law and procedure. In Board of Managers of Parkchester N. Condominium v. Quiles, she successfully challenged the applicability of the NYC Pet Law to condominiums in the First Department, obtaining a result contrary to the position of the Second Department. She has extensive experience in appellate practice representing both appellants and respondents. She has been a guest panelist at the NYARM Real Estate Expo and a contributor to the New York Law Journal and Habitat Magazine.

Ms. Berkow’s calm, resolute demeanor, deep knowledge of the law, attention to detail and strong writing skills have contributed to her success in the field.

Ms. Berkow was born in Canada. After moving to New York, she became enamored with the law during her years as a legal secretary, during which she assisted defense counsel in the Rubin “Hurricane” Carter case. In her leisure time she enjoys riding her Ducati motorcycle, ballroom dancing and Zumba.

Organizations/Memberships

New York State Bar Association

New York City Bar Association

Publications

“Can Successful Bidder of Co-op Shares Recover Possession?” New York Law Journal, October 18, 2013.

Having defended cooperatives and condominiums throughout New York City for 10 years as panel counsel to several insurers, Mr. Brandt represents clients, including homeowners’ associations, tenants, and unit owners, in insurance coverage and indemnification matters. Mr. Brandt also has experience in mortgage fraud litigation and representing claimants and attorneys in legal malpractice actions.

Mr. Brandt regularly practices in the Civil Court of the City of New York, including both the housing and commercial landlord-tenant parts, New York State Supreme Court, the Federal District Courts in the Eastern and Southern Districts of New York, as well as before the New York City Commission on Human Rights, the New York State Division of Human Rights, the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, and the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission.

Even in complex and acrimonious conflicts, Mr. Brandt looks to achieves favorable results for his clients, through a combination of vigorous courtroom advocacy, adept motion and trial practice, practical analysis of legal issues, and honest brokering.

Mr. Brandt is also general counsel to various condominiums and cooperatives in the New York City area.

Mr. Brandt graduated from Brooklyn Law School in 2003 and is admitted to the State and Federal Courts in New York. He was an associate with Braverman Greenspun, P.C. from 2003 to 2013, and counsel to Porzio Bromberg & Newman, P.C. from 2013 to 2015.

Publications

Quoted in “Ask an Expert: Almost pregnant and up to here with the neighbor’s pot smoke” The Daily News On-line Edition, May 8, 2012

Having worked as an associate at a general practice firm prior to joining Wagner Berkow, Ms. Khindri’s practice areas also include corporate law and governance, family law litigation, entertainment law, and animal law. In addition, Ms. Khindri has represented lenders in residential mortgage foreclosure litigation throughout the five boroughs.

Ms. Khindri earned her J.D. from New York Law School in 2011 and her B.A. in Journalism/Psychology magna cum laude from New York University in 2006. During law school, Niki was a staff editor for New York Law School’s Media Law & Policy Journal.

Ms. Khindri is a member of the Animal Law Committee of the New York City Bar Association and offers pro bono assistance to clients with animal-related legal issues. In her spare time, Ms. Khindri enjoys oil painting, figure skating, Netflix binge-watching, and all things animals. She lives in Greenwich Village with her diabetic and high-maintenance Maltese, Oliver.

Niki is admitted to practice law in the State of New York.

Avi Kimmel

Avi Kimmel

Avi Kimmel joined Wagner Berkow, LLP as an associate attorney in 2017. Avi has focused his practice in the areas of real estate and business law, representing clients in residential and commercial real estate transactions, cooperative and condominium law, and business and real estate litigation.

Prior to joining Wagner Berkow, LLP, Avi worked at a boutique law firm in Manhattan with a focus on business law, including formation and partnership issues, municipal financing, real estate transactions, investment rights and corporate governance. Avi also previously worked as an urban planner in New York City. He holds a master’s degree in city and regional planning and has helped communities, businesses and public officials to develop and implement land use, economic development and infrastructure projects as a planning consultant to the City and State of New York.

Additionally, Avi has extensive experience in the fields of public policy and international affairs. He is a former U.S. Presidential Management Fellow and has served at the U.S. Department of State and the U.S. Department of Homeland Security. Avi’s interests include history and travel, and he has lived and worked in Ecuador, Colombia, China, Japan, and Australia.

Avi received his J.D. from Santa Clara University School of Law, his M.C.R.P. from the Georgia Institute of Technology and his B.A. from Brown University. During law school, Avi was a member of Law Review and externed for the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California.

Avi is admitted to practice law in the State of New York and the District of Columbia.

Leisl Kerechek

Leisl Kerechek

Leisl Kerechek joined Wagner Berkow, LLP as an associate attorney in 2017. Leisl has focused her practice in the areas of business and real estate law, cooperative and condominium law, and real estate and business litigation.

Prior to joining Wagner Berkow, LLP, Leisl worked for several years at a boutique real estate law firm in Brooklyn with a focus on commercial and residential real estate transactions, where she represented investors, businesses, and families in a variety of commercial and residential real estate sale, purchase, leasing, and financing matters. Leisl also handled business law matters, including formation, partnership, and corporate governance issues.

Leisl received her J.D. from Seattle University School of Law in 2014, and she is admitted to practice law in the State of New York and the State of New Jersey.

Pena-Emilia Robinson

Pena-Emilia Robinson

Pena-Emilia Robinson joined Wagner Berkow, LLP in June of 2015 as a Paralegal where she brings twenty-four years of legal experience to the firm. Ms. Robinson has been a Paralegal since 1988 and completed her studies at St. John University in Staten Island. Over the course of her career as a Paralegal, Ms. Robinson has developed extensive legal knowledge in real estate, commercial litigation, trust and estates, bankruptcy and family law while working at various law firms in California, New York City and Boston.

Ms. Robinson has a Bachelor of Science in Legal Studies and is currently pursuing her Master’s in Business Administration in Justice Studies at Southern New Hampshire University. Ms. Robinson has aspirations of attending law school in 2017 to further her career in the legal field.

In Ms. Robinson’s free time she loves riding her Harley Davidson Street Glide, listening to jazz, hiking, camping and rafting. Ms. Robinson also enjoys watching her son’s Red Dragons football games at SUNY Cortland, gardening, traveling and spending time with her family.